Pointless Protest: New York Pastors Rally Against Al Sharpton

A group of New York-based preachers are organizing and planning a rally against Rev. Al Sharpton.

According to the New York Daily News, Four upstart clergymen have invited more than 100 churches to knock Rev. Al Sharpton off his Harlem political throne.

Though it’s unclear what their mission is regarding attacking Sharpton, Speak Out Say It Loud is a new coalition of black ministers determined to create a unified African-American power base with citywide clout and headquartered at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church.

Mount Neboh pastor Johnnie Green, 51, said Sharpton has neglected black New York while pursuing national fame and acclaim.

Rev. Al Sharpton

“While (Sharpton) is jet-setting around the country, people are going to our churches saying they don’t have money to eat,” the Dallas native said. “People need somebody to fight for them.”

Green, along with pastors Carl Washington of New Mount Zion Baptist Church, Kris Erskine of Bethany Baptist Church and Patrick Young of First Baptist Church of East Elmhurst, Queens, have planned a large rally for Oct. 24 at Mount Neboh.

The group expects more than 1,500 supporters to attend.

Green and the rally organizers argue that Sharpton has spent too much time plugging his new book, “The Rejected Stone,” and tending to his MSNBC show. “You have to engage politically. You have to put people in office who will benefit your agenda and benefit people in the congregation,” said Raymond Blanchette, bishop general secretary of the United Churches for Kingdom Building. “Sharpton isn’t a community organizer. He’s a personality.”

But Blanchette said he has nothing against Sharpton, but would attend the rally to show his support for the new effort.

Sharpton is unfazed by the attack on him. He told the New York Daily News: “We need to attack the issues, not each other. If you want to be the big guy, be the big guy, be that. Don’t act like I’m not doing anything local. I am.”

Preachers against Rev. Al Sharpton (Photo from New York Daily News/Howard Simmons)